Chris Hughes

Chris Hughes on Building the UAE’s First 0% FX Markup, Shariah-Compliant Debit Card

How Sinder is redefining travel money solutions for global citizens in the Gulf

Chris Hughes has built his career at the intersection of finance, technology, and execution, helping shape fintech at some of its most transformative moments. From contributing to Revolut during its hypergrowth phase to leading core products at Tamara as the Gulf’s fintech ecosystem surged, his work has consistently focused on simplifying complex financial systems into products people can trust and use with ease.

Today, Chris is channeling this experience into Sinder, where he is spearheading the launch of the UAE’s first 0% FX markup debit card. Uniquely Shariah-compliant and designed with a premium customer experience in mind, the card reflects his mission to bring world-class fintech innovation to the Gulf while solving local pain points for UAE residents.

The Gulf is the world’s highest-value outbound travel market, yet its financial services remain nearly a decade behind Europe and the US. Chris views this as a clear opportunity. With Sinder, he aims to deliver travel-centric money solutions, including cards, wallets, remittance, and even connectivity tools like eSIM, that enable a borderless financial experience for global citizens living in the UAE.

Looking ahead, Chris believes the future of fintech in the Gulf lies in hyper-localisation and commoditisation. He envisions a marketplace where financial services are delivered at near-zero cost, tailored to customer needs, and seamlessly connected across borders. For him, the goal is not just to launch another product but to build a platform that empowers UAE residents to move, spend, and connect globally without friction.

Through this vision, Chris Hughes is showing that the Gulf is not just catching up, it has the potential to set the global standard for fintech innovation.